# Saddest song of all time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 23, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756 "2003-11-23T00:32:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/81 "2003-11-26T16:53:22Z")
Put “Papa’s Roses” by Pat Benatar and “Little Did She Know (She Kissed a Hero)” by Kristy Jackson on the list. Just thinking about the Kristy Jackson song (it’s about 9/11) makes me tear up. ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/82 "2003-11-26T19:40:06Z")
I was a kidlet when “Wildfire” (about the horse?) came out and it made me cry. And I’m not _into_ horses, or animals in general, if you follow me. I still could get misty-eyed in the right frmae of mind. And when my girlfriend (now wife 😃 ) broke up with me, I listened to Blues Travelers’ “Alone” about 1000 times a day. It was cathartic to cry like that. The song itself is sad in tone, but, man, if you’re already in the dumps, look out! And I didn’t write down the poster, but to whoever listed REM’s “Everybody Hurts”, it is **not** a sad song. Granted, it’s not a bouncy sing-a-long like “Stand” or “Shiny Happy People”. It’s meant to give comfort to those who are already sad, you know, _everybody_ hurts sometimes, _everybody_ cries. You’re not alone! Feel better! You’re just human too! It’s kind of sunk into pathetic pop culture scorn, but I still love that song. ---
**Author:** ![mug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@mug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mug)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/83 "2003-11-26T20:41:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rib Eye \* > **Sheesh, no mention of Les Miserables?** I agree, Les Mis is full of sad songs. My favorite DVD is the Dream Cast concert. I would also nominate _Empty Chairs at Empty Tables_ as another good, sad song. Especially if sung by Michael Ball. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/84 "2003-11-26T23:18:46Z")
Another vote for **Eric Clapton’s** “Tears In Heaven”… If the starting lyrics is…“Would you know my name if I saw you in Heaven?”…knowing that he is asking this question posthumously of his deceased 2 year old son (I believe his name was Connor who died tragically) in fear of being permanently disconnected from him physically, mentally and spiritually is quite a dosage of depression that Eric easily summed up in this tune. Hopefully, a fear that none of us has to experience firsthand… ---
**Author:** ![Baby\_Fish\_Mouth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@Baby\_Fish\_Mouth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baby_Fish_Mouth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/85 "2003-11-27T01:42:44Z")
**rackensack** , “It Makes No Difference” is one of the saddest songs I’ve ever heard, but I had forgotten about it until you mentioned it. Also had to add **Sinead O’Connor’s** “Nothing Compares 2 U” and **Tom Waits’** “Invitation to the Blues.” ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/86 "2003-11-27T02:25:04Z")
I can’t beleive no one’s mentioned… _Amazing Grace_. Or maybe _Somewhere, Out There_ ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/87 "2003-11-27T02:25:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\* > **Dire Straits** - _Brothers in Arms_ > \*\* Good one! I’d also add _Your Latest Trick_ from the same album. Also, _I Am Stretched On Your Grave_ as performed by **Dead Can Dance**. And when I was a kid, in the Reagan era, _Russians_ by **Sting** used to truly depress me… _Mr Reagan says we will protect you I don’t subscribe to this point of view Believe me when I say to you I hope the Russians love their children too_ ---
**Author:** ![Petrichor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@Petrichor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petrichor)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/88 "2003-11-27T02:58:22Z")
_Noah’s Dove_ by **10000 Maniacs** , I was going thru a difficult time when I first heard it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/89 "2003-11-27T06:50:23Z")
**Yetticus** , Clapton’s son was indeed named Connor. He died after falling out a 49th-story window in his mother’s Manhattan apartment. ---
**Author:** ![RawkStah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@RawkStah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RawkStah)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/90 "2003-11-27T07:01:45Z")
Pretty much of the eels’ library is pretty depressing/sad. There are also some killer sad songs on the new Belle & Sebastian album. For example, from “Lord Anthony”: “Tasting blood again… at least it’s your own.” and “You may as well take one in the guts – it can’t get worse than this.” **vunderbob** – “I Don’t Like Mondays” is my favorite song in the world. Never heard it described as sad, but I can easily see how. I’m also on board with “Puff, the Magic Dragon”. Jackie Paper dies, dammit. That’s not a happy thing. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/91 "2003-11-27T07:19:56Z")
**Time** by The Alan Parsons Project. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/92 "2003-11-27T08:57:44Z")
The Pretenders - I’ll Stand by You ---
**Author:** ![Magret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b782af/32.png) [@Magret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magret)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/93 "2003-11-27T11:06:08Z")
The Blantyre Explosion always makes me cry. So does Two Little Boys by Rolf Harris, even though it has a happy ending. ---
**Author:** ![spogga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@spogga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spogga)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/94 "2003-11-27T11:42:39Z")
“Why” Roger Whittaker…I know, I’m old ---
**Author:** ![Bunnylady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Bunnylady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bunnylady)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/95 "2003-11-27T16:36:03Z")
'Scuse me, Rawkstah, but Jackie Paper doesn’t die. He GROWS UP. The song is about the loss of innocence - how Jackie grew up and didn’t believe in things like dragons anymore. Check [snopes.com](http://snopes.com) if you don’t believe me. ---
**Author:** ![spogga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@spogga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spogga)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/96 "2003-11-27T17:43:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by INSANE1 \* > \*\*Elvis Presley’s ‘You were always on my mind’ \*\* Presley made a balls of it, Willie Nelsons recording is by far the best. Another for saddest is Bill Withers " Lean on Me" ---
**Author:** ![spogga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@spogga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spogga)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/97 "2003-11-27T17:47:28Z")
…and nobody has mentioned “Words” The BeeGees ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/98 "2003-11-27T23:56:48Z")
Pearls - Sade ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/99 "2003-11-28T00:03:24Z")
My girlfriend died at about the same time as Eric Clapton’s son and someone bought be Tears in Heaven on 12in. It still makes me cry - but I still don’t think of it as a sad song. It’s very, very beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![peritrochoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@peritrochoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peritrochoid)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/100 "2003-11-28T00:13:45Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Ranchoth \* > \*\* > “Llorando” from the “Mulholland Drive” soundtrack._\* Chalk up a “me too” for that one. I want to add: The duet by Sheryl Crowe and Emmylou Harris on “Juanita”, from a Gram Parsons tribute album, and “River of Tears” by Eric Clapton. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756.md?page=6)